Repression

The military junta on the offensive

The miners' intransigent position against the military government gradually won over other sectors of the labour movement, and the opposition grew in strength as various political parties, which had at first supported General Barrientos, turned against him. At the May Day demonstrations of 1965 the demonstrators singled out the Military Junta as the target for attack and, although he tried to cool the spirit of the unions, Lechín adopted a radical position, taking care, however, not to identify himself with the communists. ‘At midday, it was Lechín's turn to speak, and from the balcony of the FSTMB office he appealed to the Junta to adopt a new political and economic line adjusted to the current situation of the country…Later on he condemned the United States intervention in Asia and the armed invasion of the Dominican Republic … It was the hope of the people that the armed forces would fulfil their promise to preside over honest elections, he declared.’

Shortly afterwards, on 12 May 1965, the miners, factory and construction workers, and the rural and urban school-teachers signed a pact in La Paz, proclaiming that they would struggle together to defend the trade unions and to secure social and economic improvements for the workers. This proclamation took place while the COB was still in existence.